An estimated 150,000 alarm systems are installed in homes and businesses in Palm Beach County. The Sheriff's Office handles 40 to 65 alarm-permit requests each day.

"We're trying to work on the problems now before they get out of control," said George Gasparini, a deputy in the sheriff's alarm unit who is also a certified alarm technician.

Each city handles false alarm penalties differently.

For example, homes and businesses in Boca Raton are allowed two false alarms each year. After that, Boca Raton police charge a "fee" of $27 for responses to each false alarm.

Sheriff's officials use a sliding scale for penalties, charging more for each successive false alarm. A 14th false alarm, for example, results in a $500 fine.

Security alarms, when installed properly and maintained adequately, are a boon to law enforcement. There are two kinds of security alarms, unmonitored and monitored. With unmonitored alarms, homes or business are protected with some type of electronic detectors that activate a noisy alarm. The homeowner relies on neighbors to call 911 when the home is unoccupied.

"Monitored [alarms) are the best way to go," Radford said.

Once a monitored alarm is activated, the signal is sent by telephone wires to a central dispatch for the alarm company, which then notifies the police department. The police dispatch patrol officers to the home.

When the system works, it gives police officers a better chance of catching burglars at the scene. The quick arrests reduce caseloads for already overworked detectives.

Unfortunately, false alarms occur about nine times out of 10, sheriff's records show.

"The No. 1 problem is user error," Gasparini said. "People don't set it properly or turn it off in time or they don't check the equipment like they should."

"People have to understand the responsibility of the system is theirs," Radford said. "If they can't rely on the system, we can't rely on the system."

The Sheriff's Office has three deputies who answer questions about buying, installing, maintaining and operating alarm systems. Gasparini is a trained alarm technician on the board of directors for the Alarm Association of Florida Inc., which oversees standards for alarm companies and lobbies for state laws about alarm systems.

"A good alarm system is invaluable, especially down here," Gasparini said. "If you need them, they can be a lifesaver. But we can't protect and serve you if we're running around all over the county answering false alarms."